Horrible Histories
- TV sketch show
- CBBC / BBC One
- 2009 - 2024
- 136 episodes (10 series)
Hit sketch show based on surprising facts from world history, inspired by the hit children's book series. Stars Jim Howick, Simon Farnaby, Ben Willbond, Mathew Baynton, Martha Howe-Douglas and more.
- Due to return for Series 11
- Catch-up on Series 10, Episode 10
- Streaming rank this week: 1,050
Episode menu
2016 Specials - Sensational Shakespeare
Further details
Tom Stourton stars as the Bard, as we find out about his humble beginnings, his glove-making father and his early life as an actor. How did he climb to become a royal favourite? And what was it like to be in the audience of one of his plays, where fruit was thrown at the stage, it was illegal for women to act, and there were no toilets?
The episode is a look at the life and times of the playwright William Shakespeare - from his largely unknown and humble beginnings in Stratford, through his times as a jobbing actor in London, to his success as the country's most respected and financially savvy writer. Along the way we meet his gang of London friends - the playwrights, poets and brawlers Marlowe, Jonson and Spenser. We also explore the social history of Britain and the world, and how, if you wanted to avoid the plague, it was important to eat your none-a-day portion of fruit and veg.
This episode has a special guest appearance from Miles Jupp.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Tuesday 19th April 2016
- Time
- 4:30pm
- Channel
- CBBC
- Length
- 35 minutes
Repeats
Show past repeats
Date | Time | Channel |
---|---|---|
Friday 22nd April 2016 | 2:20pm | CBBC |
Saturday 23rd April 2016 | 3:00pm | CBBC |
Thursday 14th July 2016 | 1:25pm | CBBC |
Sunday 13th November 2016 | 2:05pm | CBBC |
Tuesday 27th December 2016 | 7:55pm | CBBC |
Tuesday 3rd January 2017 | 5:30pm | CBBC |
Sunday 23rd April 2017 | 2:25pm | CBBC |
Friday 16th February 2018 | 9:20am | CBBC |
Friday 6th April 2018 | 4:30pm | CBBC |
Monday 23rd April 2018 | 7:00pm | CBBC |
Sunday 24th June 2018 | 2:30pm | CBBC |
Sunday 15th July 2018 | 4:45pm | CBBC |
Monday 20th August 2018 | 9:05am | CBBC |
Thursday 1st November 2018 | 6:55pm | CBBC |
Sunday 11th November 2018 | 11:05am | CBBC |
Sunday 3rd February 2019 | 11:30am | CBBC |
Sunday 21st April 2019 | 8:00pm | CBBC |
Thursday 23rd April 2020 | 6:55pm | CBBC |
Friday 23rd April 2021 | 5:00pm | CBBC |
Monday 19th July 2021 | 9:45am | CBBC |
Friday 23rd July 2021 | 9:40am | CBBC |
Friday 3rd September 2021 | 10:35am | CBBC |
Sunday 27th March 2022 | 2:05pm | CBBC |
Saturday 23rd April 2022 | 1:40pm | CBBC |
Sunday 23rd April 2023 | 12:45pm | CBBC |
Cast & crew
Jalaal Hartley | Various |
Jessica Ransom | Various |
Natalie Walter | Various |
Richard David-Caine | Various |
Gemma Whelan | Various |
Jon Culshaw | Various (Voice) |
Louise Ford | Ensemble Actor |
Dominique Moore | Ensemble Actor |
John Eccleston | Rattus Rattus |
Tom Stourton | William Shakespeare |
Richard Atwill | Various |
Thom Tuck | Various |
Mel Giedroyc | Publisher |
Miles Jupp | Frances |
Daniel Lawrence Taylor (as Daniel Taylor) | Ensemble Actor |
George Sawyer | Writer |
Steve Punt | Writer |
Dave Cohen | Writer |
Ben Ward | Writer |
Gerard Foster | Writer |
Dan Maier (as Daniel Maier) | Writer (Additional Material) |
Ben Ward | Script Editor |
George Sawyer | Script Editor |
Toby Davies | Writer |
Joe Tucker | Writer |
Raphael Warner | Writer |
Lucy Clarke (as Lucy Clark) | Writer |
Daniel Peak (as Danny Peak) | Writer |
Daniel Peak (as Danny Peak) | Script Editor |
Steve Connelly | Director |
Tom Miller | Series Producer |
Lisa Mitchell | Producer |
Melissa Hardinge | Executive Producer |
Richard Bradley | Executive Producer |
Simon Welton | Executive Producer |
Gareth Heal | Editor |
Richie Webb | Composer |
Alison Jeffery | Production Designer |
Videos
Shakespeare at School
See what happens when William Shakespeare visited a modern day school to talk about his writing.
Featuring: Tom Stourton (William Shakespeare).
Shakespeare Quote Alert
William Shakespeare can't even walk down the street without people quoting his work.
Featuring: Jessica Ransom, Natalie Walter, Tom Stourton (William Shakespeare), Thom Tuck & Miles Jupp (Frances).
What to eat to avoid disease
Want to keep disease away? Then eat none-a-day!
Featuring: Jessica Ransom & Daniel Taylor.
Press
With the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death approaching, the HH team gather their best bard jokes and return to the Tudor days, when theatre was huge. "It had to be, there wasn't any telly." Ben Jonson, Christopher Marlowe and Gabriel Spenser delight as bad-boy rappers, while a Gene Kelly-spoofing turn from Miles Jupp centres on an era when people emptied chamber pots out of upstairs windows: "I'm singing in urine."
Jonathan Wright, The Guardian, 19th April 2016